Contributed by: maverickScott(others by this writer | submit your own)Published on August 12th 2003Gameface has been around for more than a decade, and for a band with a sound this accessible, it's astonishing that they *haven't* hit it big yet. Any of the new breed of emotional pop-punk bands [Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, the Starting Line, et al.] you've been shelling out your hard earned c.

Gameface has been around for more than a decade, and for a band with a sound this accessible, it's astonishing that they *haven't* hit it big yet. Any of the new breed of emotional pop-punk bands [Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, the Starting Line, et al.] you've been shelling out your hard earned cash for probably owes a great deal to this band, whether they realize it or not. Few groups in any genre last this long, so this is a testament to the band's persistance, if nothing else.

But persistence doesn't equal relevance, so the main question here is: does Gameface still have it?

Yes and no. Four To Go, while eons better than the group's dismal last effort, Always On, doesn't come close to the greatness that the band set with the Cupcakes EP as well as Every Last Time, unarguably their best album [and easily one of the genre's best, too]. So essentially, it falls somewhere in between those bookends.

"This Old House" is a barnburner of an opener, and I don't ever recall hearing Jeff Caudill this mad before. This newfound anger appears later on in "Don't Get Me Started," which receives the dubious distinction of being the first Gameface song in the history of the band that uses a vulgarity [referring to "15 year old sluts popping out babies like a fucking factory"].

Caudill's lyrics have always been rather predictable, usually being about one of the following topics:

being in a rock band

girls [or nowadays his wife]

travelling of some sort [also associated with people leaving]

obtuse references to "people"
It's not rocket science, but it's good and catchy nonetheless [and when was the last time you sang the NASA theme song, anyway?].

The biggest downfall of this disc falls in it's length. Too many of these songs cross the four-minute mark, and two tracks push a whopping five and a half minutes, which is pure blasphemy in this genre. Occasionally I even caught myself looking at the "time remaining" ticker in some of the 3 minute songs, showing me that even the best of these songs could have benefited from a bit more reworking [does a chorus really have to be repeated a half dozen times at the song's end?].

Faults aside, this album shows an upswing in Gameface's overall sound - it doesn't hurt that the recording itself is really crisp and just begs to be turned up louder. There are more gems than duds on this disc, and that's about all anyone can ask for. If you're new to the band, get Every Last Time and Cupcakes first, but place this third on your "to get" list.

I had counted them out before I heard this one. Much better than expected.

You are right, that last one on Rev, is garbage.

Anonymous (August 13, 2003)

I heard the Gimme Gimmes were lining up a cover of the NASA song for their next record.

Anonymous (August 13, 2003)

"15 year old sluts popping out babies like a fucking factory"

sold.

fuck, if any album says that, thats all the review needs to say, case closed. who cares if theres "songs", or guitars, thats all that really matters, is that it features someone at somepoint saying that line.

I was only mildly interested in the new gameface until this information came to light. kudos gameface, kudos.

wyzo

Anonymous (August 13, 2003)

I wonder if this is as good as the pre-Good album material.

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

Holy shit this band is still together?! This is cool.

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

I hate the music industry definition for "relevance," and whether a band "has" it. It's just a weasel-like way of saying "these guys have been around forever and it's doubtful as to whether or not they still have a good record in them" or it means "the trend this band was part of is passing and they'll either weather the storm or look like really old news"

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

I can't believe you rated Dashboard higher than Gameface...

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

And while you`re at it, don`t forget "Three to get ready", it`s an amazing album and it`s a total shame, they aren`t playing "A day in june" anymore ... some of the best lyrics I`ve ever read ...

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

Gameface is just a rock band. 10 years ago they were referring to themselves as "unpunk". But a good rock band nonetheless. Why Matchbox 20 is huge and these guys only have a marginal underground following is beyond me.

--Cos

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

every last time is such a wonderful pop album. i have to check this out--even if the last CD was a stinker.

--Cos

Anonymous (August 12, 2003)

So emotionally-charged pop-punk is officially a genre now, eh?

I was thinking of calling it popcore but it sounds a little too much like popcorn. Any suggestions?